Tool-box.



L. M. GAU. TOOL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 5.19I8.

Patented Oct. 7, 1919.

LAWRENCE M. GAU, 0F sEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

TOOL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 0a. 7, 1919.

Application filed February 5, 1918. Serial No. 215,726.

. is to provide a tool box of certain novel con 'struction wherein can be disposed the tools and implements that skilled worlnnen employ in the construction of ships.

q A further object resides in the collapsible features of construction and in the adjustability of the tool box handle.

Still further objects will appear from the following specification, illustrated in the accompanylng drawings and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is aLperspective view of the tool box in its open position; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the tool box in its closed position with the hose protruding from the end'thereof; Fig. 3 is a sectional View of the toolbox in its closed position; and Fig. 4; is a sectional view of the toolbox in its open position.

In shipbuilding construction, most of the tools and implements employed are actuated by compressed air. As a rule, the skilled employees carry as a part of their equip-' ment, in connection with their tools, one or more hose and couplings therefor and a light bulb. These hose are attached to the nearest manifold in the part of the ship the employee is working at the time. Many of these skilled employees are engaged by piece work and henceit behooves them, as well as the employer, that they utilize all available time in actual constructive work.

Up to the present, no provision has been devised for saving from one half to an hour, both night and morning, in the quick assembly of tools.

It is the practice at this time for the workman to carry his tools and hose to some locker, which may be at the other end of the ship, or leave the hose and hose couplings where they were at quitting time, coupled to the manifold. It is not unusual for the workman to return next morning and find his hose stolen or borrowed by some other employee, who, in turn, has lost his own. This entails much time lost in securing equipment toreplace that which has been taken away.

The present invention is to overcome the loss of time in assembling the tools before qlllttlng time in order thatthey may be taken to some distant locker, and to provide a box that will safely lock the tools, electric llght bulb and hose couplings therein, and have such box left at the place the workman vwas engaged at quitting time the previous day, with the hose remalning connected to the manifold for instant use the next mornmg.

Referring now to the tool box for a more detailed description of construction, the row meral 1 represents one-half of the tool box, and 2 the other half thereof, and these two halves are hingedly secured together in any well known manner upon their upper rear sides as shown in Fig. 1.

When the box is open, the two respective hinged sides form a central partition, thus dividing the box into two equal sections.

Disposed in a straddled relation upon the rod 3, which rod serves as the means for attaching the hinges 4 of the respective box sections thereto, is the adjustable handle 5.

- This handle comprises two downwardly projecting elongated members 6 and 6 on both ends thereof, and these elongated members are so disposed with respect to the rod 3 that when the box is in an open position the two companion members of each side can be caused to straddle the rod and engage with their angular ends 7 the respective adjacent bottom sections of the box.

When it is desired to close the box, slight downward pressure will disengage the contact of the angular ends 7 with the bottom of each section, and the handle can be drawn upwardly thus causing the angular ends 7 to come into engaging contact with the rod 3. The two sections of the box can then be closed and looked, as at 8, with the handle 5 in convenientposition on the outside of the box.

This adjustable feature provides a handle for the box in its open and closed position. If it is not desired to have a handle upon the box in its closed position, the handle 4: could simply have two short members to engage the rod 3 and serve as a handle only when the box is open.

18 are a plurality of half circle apertures provided in the respective adjacent end sections of the box for the reception of the boss couplings 9. It can thus be seen that when the workman places these couplings attached to the hose within the apertures, and the two sections of the box closed thereupon and. locked, the couplings cannot be withdrawn. In one or more of these apertures can be provided a slot 10 for the reception of the cord of the light bulb, and this light bulb can likewise be placed into the box attached to the cord and safely stored with the tools.

With a box provided with these facilities the workman can assemble his tools therein, together with the hose coupling with the hose attached, at quitting time, and lock the two sides of the box together. The time lost in disengaging the hose from the manifold, and carrying. the tools to a distant locker, will be saved, and the following morning the time lost in assembling the tools and coupling up the hose, if not lost or stolen, is obviated.

Obviously, various mechanical changes can be made in the details of construction within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is:

1. A tool box comprising hingedly secured sections adapted to form a centrally disposed partitioned box when said sections are in an open position and a partitionless box when said sections are in aclosed position, andmeans attached to the hinged part of said sections to form a handle when said sections are in an opened or closed position.

2. A tool box comprising sections of uniform size hingedly secured together upon one of their upper sides, a handle attached to the hinged part of said sections, and means for securing the coupling end of hose within said box with the hose exteriorly thereof.

3. A tool box comprising hingedly secured sections adapted to form a centrally disposed partitioned box when said sections are in an open position, ahandle having downwardly projecting ends intermediate said sections and adapted to engage the bottoms thereof when said box is in an open position, and means for engaging the downwardly projecting ends of said handle between the hingedly securedsections when said box is in a closed position. l

4, A tool box comprising sections hingedly secured together upon one of their upper sides, a handle attached to the hinged part of said sections, a plurality of half circular apertures provided upon the upper ends of said sections adapted to form a circular hole when said sections areclosed whereby hose can be disposed between said ,apertures'and held securely therebetween by the couplings thereof when said box is closed.

Signed by me at Seattle, l vashington, this 24th day of January, l918;

L E E M. GAU.

Witnesses: i i V D. C. KonNs, R. J. Goon.

Copies of this patent may be pbtained for five cents each, by addressing tneflfipmrnissipner of latents,

Washington, D. G" i V i 

